Anthony O'Connor (footballer)

Anthony O'Connor
Personal information
Full nameAnthony Dean O'Connor[1]
Date of birth25 October 1992
Place of birthCork, Ireland
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionDefender, Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Plymouth Argyle
Number19
Youth career
2008–2011Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011–2015Blackburn Rovers0(0)
2012–2013→ Burton Albion (loan)46(0)
2013–2014→ Torquay United (loan)31(0)
2014–2015→ Plymouth Argyle(loan)24(0)
2015–Plymouth Argyle12(2)
National team
2008Republic of Ireland U173(0)
2010–2011Republic of Ireland U199(2)
2013Republic of Ireland U218(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:28 24 March 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Anthony Dean O'Connor (born 25 October 1992) is an Irish footballer who is currently playing for Plymouth Argyle. He plays as a defender or as a midfielder.

Career

Blackburn Rovers

Born in Cork, O'Connor joined the academy setup at Blackburn Rovers 2008, having previously played for Kilreen Celtic and Nu Farm.[2] In the summer of 2011, O'Connor signed his first professional contract.

In October 2012, O'Connor signed a new contract with Blackburn Rovers, that will keep him until 2015.[3] Ahead of the 2013–14 season, O'Connor was given number twenty-eight shirt at the club.[4]

Loan Spells

On 15 August 2012, he joined Football League Two side Burton Albion on an initial one-month loan.[5] His professional debut for Burton came on 18 August 2012, in a 3–0 defeat to Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. On 11 September 2013, O'Connor's loan spell at Burton was extended January 2013.[6] During that time, he became a regular at the Pirelli Stadium and his loan spell was again extended, this time until the end of the season.[7] In total, O'Connor made 53 appearances in all competitions for the club during the 2012–13 season.[8] Burton Albion made their attempts to sign O'Connor for the second time ahead of the season, but this was proven to be unsuccessful.[9]

On 1 October 2013, O'Connor joined League Two side Torquay United on a one-month loan deal.[10] On 29 October 2013, O'Connor extended his loan at Torquay by a further month, keeping him at Plainmoor until 30 November 2013.[11] Two days after his loan had expired, Torquay decided to extended his stay once again by a further month, thus keeping him at the club until the end of December 2013.[12] Shortly after extending his loan spell, O'Connor was named as the club's Player of the Month for November.[13] Throughout the season O'Connor was unable to help the club survive relegation to Football Conference, as he made twenty-four appearance for the club and despite this, O'Connor was named 2013–14 Young Player of the Season.[14]

Plymouth Argyle

Despite his aim to make a breakthrough for Blackburn Rovers in the 2014–15 season,[15] O'Connor, joined Plymouth Argyle on loan until 10 January 2015.[16] It took until 16 August 2014 for O'Connor to make his Plymouth's debut, playing as defensive midfielder, in a 3–0 win over rivals, Exeter City.[17] Between August and February, O'Connor "has operated in a holding role in front of the defence" and played out "position as either in a midfield holding role or a as centre-back" that led Manager John Sheridan praising his performance.[18][19]

On 2 February 2015, O'Connor signed for Plymouth Argyle, with Plymouth taking over Blackburn's existing contract for the defender, which expires at the end of the season. This was following a vastly successful loan to the Pilgrims, which saw the League Two team rocket up to 4th in the table.[20] A few weeks ago, the club were keen to sign him permanently.[19] O'Connor's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came five days later, in a 1–0 win over Accrington Stanley.[21]

International career

In 2008, O'Connor was called-up by Republic of Ireland U17 squad for the qualifying phase of the UEFA Under 17s Championship.[22] After this, O'Connor had represented Republic of Ireland U19 and Republic of Ireland U21.[23]

Career statistics

Statistics accurate as of 4 December 2013.[24]

Club Season League Cup[25] Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burton Albion (loan) 2012–13 4805000530
Torquay United (loan) 2013–14 80100090
Career Total 5606000620

References

  1. ↑ "Updated Premier League squad list: Blackburn Rovers". London: Daily Mail. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Meet the Irish Under-17 squad". FAI. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "O'Connor pens new deal". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Naew season, new numbers!". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 28 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Burton Albion sign Matt Paterson and Anthony O'Connor". BBC Sport. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Brewers Extend O'Connor Loan". Burton Albion Official Website. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "O'Connor Loan Extension Confirmed". Burton Albion Official Website. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Anthony O'Connor: Career History". Blackburn Rovers Official Website. 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers to wait on O'Connor". Lancashire Telegraph. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "UNITED SIGN O'CONNOR". Torquay United Official Website. 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "O'CONNOR LOAN EXTENSION". Torquay United Official Website. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "ANOTHER MONTH FOR O'CONNOR". Torquay United Official Website. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "NICE ONE ANT". Torquay United F.C. 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "2013–14 AWARDS". Torquay United F.C. 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Sky Bet Championship: Anthony O'Connor ready to step up at Blackburn". Sky Sports. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Pilgrims call for O'Connor". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  18. ↑ "On-loan Blackburn Rovers defender Anthony O'Connor praised by Plymouth Argyle boss". Lancashire Telegraph. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Plymouth want new deal for Blackburn Rovers youngster Anthony O'Connor". Lancashire Telegraph. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Transfer news: Plymouth sign Blackburn midfielder Anthony O'Connor". Sky Sports. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Rovers duo named in Ireland youth squad". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Country calls". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Anthony O'Connor in 2013/2014". Soccer Base. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  25. ↑ Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield

External links